Bookcase



A, J. KoEPsELL.

BOOKCASE. APPLICATION FILED JULY I7. |920.

A. J. KOEPSELL.

BOOKCASE. APPLICATION FILED IMI/17.1920.

1,421,012, Patentedzfune 27, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i@ I L @ATNT @FFME AUGUST J'. KOEPSELL, 0F MAYVILLE, WISCONSIN.

BOOKCASE.

Application filed Julyil?,

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, AUGUST J. Konrsam'.. a citizen of the United States, residing at Mayville, in the county of Dodge and Stateof lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bookcases, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to book cases and, more particularly to a rotary book case provided with adjustable shelves.

An important object of the invention is to providein a book case of this type, means whereby certain of the shelves thereof may be readily adjusted.

A` further object of the invention. is to provide a novel construction in a book case of this type whereby the books carried there by are so positioned that their titles may be readfrom a point lying beyond. the periphery of the book case.

A further object of. the invention is to provide a device of this character which is extremely simpleA and efficient in operation and which presents a pleasing' appearance to the eye.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become appa-rent throughout the course of the following description :v

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for thepurpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein. like reference characters designate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a book-case embodying my invention.

Figure is a transverse sectional view therethrough; and

Figure 3 is` a detailed view illustrating the operating mechanism by means of which the adjustable shelves are shifted.

In the construction of my invention I preferably employ a. base or standard 10 in which is rotatably. mounted the lower end of' a vertical shaft 11, some suitable antifriction device 12 being disposed intermediate a shoulder formed on theshaft and the base 10.

To the lower end of the shaftimmediately` above the base 10 ak shelf 13v is securedl to the shaft as at 14 in any desired manner and held against rotation with relation thereto.

` At the upperend of the shaft a shelf 15,

similar in shape, isk secured to the shaft as at 16, and. held againstV rotation with relation. thereto.. Mounted intermediate the Specification of Letters Patent. Pat-@1114961 June 27', 1922,

1920. Serial No. 396,960.

shelves 13 and 15 is a plurality of shelves 17, similar in shaping to the shelves` 13 and 15 and provided with central openings through which the shaft 11 extends..

Each of these shelves is in theform of a cross having the arms 20 thereof of equallength, and each shelf is provided adjacent the ends of the arms thereof` with apertures 18. Vertical rods 19 extend through these aperturesand are secured to the shelves 13` and 15 in anydesired manner to prevent vertical movement thereof. Two of the brace rods 19 are provided at each arm of the shelf and are disposed at opposite sides thereof. v

.Mounted upon each of the arms of the shelf inwardly from4 the brace wires 19 there-` of is a vertical support triangularin cross section and having-one of the sides thereof disposed toward the end of the arm. As will bel seen by inspecting the drawings, the other two sides of the triangular structure forming an angularly disposedE support-` against which books may be disposed, these sidesbeing preferably disposed at an angle of 4:5 degrees to the longitudinal axis of'v the arms 20.

If desired,l upstanding partition walls 21a may be provided centrally of theJ upper face of each of the arms 20 extending inwardly to abut a housing 22 which is preferably rectangular in cross section and has its faces disposed at an angle of 45. degreesto the axes of the arms 20. It will. be seen thatv books placed upon the shelf will be alined by the walls of the housing 22 and the triangular support 21, so that they are at an angle of approximately L15 degrees to the sides of the arm and accordingly face outwardly toward the peripheral circle formed by the arms when rotating, thereby permittingv ready reading of the titles thereof. Iithe partition wally 21L isused, this further assists in the alining of the volumes upon the shelves.

The vertical shaft; 11 is preferably rectangular in cross section and is provided upon oppositely disposed faces thereof withgear teeth 23. `Rotatably mounted within thehousing 22 of:k each: ofthe adjustable shelves4 17 isa pair of shafts 24 arranged upon opposite sides of the shaft 11 andy provided with gears 25 having the teeth therey of meshing with the gear teeth 23 ,ofv the mounted thereabout a gravity operated dog 27, which dog engages a ratchet 2S carried by the other of the shafts 24:. llotatably mounted in suitable supports extending downwardly from the under surface of each of the shelves 17 is a shaft 29 provided upon its inner end with a gear 30 meshing with one of the gears 2G. The outer end of the shaft 29 is provided with an operating handle 31 suitably squared for the reception of the crank 32.

In the use of my device when it is desired to adjust the shelves 17 to the size of the books being used in the case, the crank 32 is applied to the shaft 29 of the shelf which it is desired to adjust, and the shaft rotated. This rotation is transmitted by the gear to the shafts 24E through the gears 2G causing the shafts to rotate in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows. This rotation causes the shelf 17 to be elevated. if it is desired to lower the shelf the lingers may be inserted through the open top of the housing 22 and the dog 27 lifted from engagement with the ratchet 28 permitting a reverse rotation of the shafts 2st and consequently lowering the corresponding shelf. If desired, the dog 27 may bc provided with an upstanding portion 33 which may be engaged by the fingers of the hand to elevate the dog.

It will be understood that many changes are possible in the shape, size and general arrangement of the parts herein shown, and I accordingly do not limit myself to the specific construction hereinbefore set forth, but may make any such changes, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A rotary book case including a rotatable support, a plurality of shelves carried by said support, each of said shelves en1- bodying a plurality of radial arms, a vertical support extending upwardly from each of said arms to the next adjacent arm and adjacent the outer ends thereof, said vertical supports being triangular in cross section and each having one of the sides thereof d isposed toward the outer end of its respective arm and at right angles to the axis of the arm, the remaining sides being disposer at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said arm, a polygonal housing disposed centrally of the shelf and surrounding said support, the sides of said housing corresponding` in number to the number of arms with which the shelf is provided, the corners of the housing being coincident with the axes of said arms and the sides of the housing being disposed toward the space intermediate the arms.

2. A rotary book case comprising a rotatable support, a plurality of shelves carried by said support, each of said shelves embodying a central portion and a plurality of radial arms intersecting the central portion, the arms of the several shelves being in alignment, a vertical support extending upward from cach of said arms adjacent the out-er end thereof, said supports being triangular in cross section and having one of the sides thereof disposed toward the outer end of its respective arm and at right angles to the axis of the arm and in spaced relation to the end of the arm, said outwardly facing side being less in width than the width of the arm, the remaining sides of the triangular support. being disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the arm, a polygonal housing disposed centrally of the shelf around said support, the housing having corners equal in number to the number of the arms and said corners being coincident with the axes of the arms, the side faces of said housing being spaced at all points from the edges of the arms.

ln a rotary book case a rotatable support, a plurality of shelves carried by said support, each of said shelves embodying a plurality of radial arms, a vertical support extending upwardly from each of said arms adjacent the outer ends thereof, said supports being triangular in cross section and each having one of the sides thereof disposed toward the outer end of its respective arm, a polygonal housing disposed centrally of the shelf and surrounding said support, the sides of said housing corresponding in number to the number of arms with which the shelf is provided, said sides being disposed toward the space intermediate the arms, the remaining sides of said triangular support being disposed at an angle to the axial center of said arms and a partition wall extending centrally of each of said arms and connecting said support and said housing.

l. ln a rotary book case a rotatable support, a plurality of shelves carried by said support, each of said shelves being substantially cross shaped and having the arms thereof of equal length, a vertical support extending upwardly from each of said arms adjacent the outer ends thereof, said supports being triangular in cross section and each having one of the sides thereof disposed toward the outer end of its respective arm and parallel thereto, the remaining sides of said supports being disposed at an angle of 45 degrees to their respective arm, and a vertical housing disposed centrally of each of said shelves, said housing being substantially rectangular in cross section and having the sides thereof disposed toward the space intermediate the arms. l

5. In a rotary book case a rotatable support, a plurality of shelves carried by said support, each of said shelves being substantially cross shaped and having the arms llO thereof of equal length, a vertical support.

extending upvvardly from each of said arms adjacent the outer ends thereof, said supports being triangular in cross section and each having one of the sides thereof disposed toward the outer end of its respective arm and parallel thereto, the remaining sides of said supports being disposed at an angle of a5 degrees to their respective arms, a vertical housing disposed centrally of each 0f said shelves, said housing being substantially rectangular in cross section and having the sides thereof disposed toward the space intermediate the arms, and a partition Wall connecting the inwardly directed apex of each of said supports with said housing at the junction of tivo of the sides thereof.

6. In a rotary book case, a rotatable vertical support horizontal shelves carried by said support, and means for vertically adjusting said shelves embodying, a rack formed upon said support, a shaft rotatably supported by each of said shelves and meshing with said rack, a second shaft rotatably supported by each of said shelves upon the under surfaces thereof and provided upon its inner end with a pinion and a second gear secured to said first named shaft and meshing with said pinion. s

7. In a rotary book case a rotatable vertical support, horizontal shelves carried by said support and means for vertically adjusting said shelves, embodying racks formed upon opposite faces of said support, a pair of shafts rotatably supported by each of said shelves upon opposite 'sides of said support, gears secured to said shafts and meshing with said racks, other gears secured to each of said shafts and meshing with the corresponding gear of the other shaft of the pair, an operating shaft rotatably supported by each of said shelves upon the under face thereof, a pinion carried by said operating shaft upon the inner end thereof and engaging one of said last named gears and a gravity operated dog rotatably mounted upon one shaft of each pair to coact With a ratchet carried bythe other shaft of each e pair.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

AUGUST J. KOEPSELL. 

